A new roadmap for pension consultations defined by social partners

The five employers' and unions' organizations still participating in the pension discussions hope to have defined a new roadmap, to be formally validated before their next weekly meeting, they indicated on Thursday, April 3.

"We have completed this work," declared Yvan Ricordeau, the CFDT negotiator, explaining that it was now up to Jean-Jacques Marette, the discussion leader, to put this "objectives note" in black and white, for final approval by the participants.

"This is a finalized work" and "no one will change the text," Yvan Ricordeau told the press after a longer-than-usual discussion session. "We now have a roadmap in the hands of the social partners," he added.

The CPME, the Medef and the CFE-CGC confirmed that the document was almost finalized, with only the CFTC expressing some reservations.

"The boat isn't taking on water, but we're still on a bit of a drunken boat," commented Léonard Guillemot.

The CFTC is particularly concerned about its partners' desire to include in the roadmap considerations on the financing of social protection in general - particularly at the instigation of employers' organisations.

"We're already having difficulty doing what's being asked of us" on pensions, "how are we going to do more?" asked Mr. Guillemot, especially since the FO, the CGT, and the U2P employers' union have left the discussions.

The "objectives note" in preparation, which is expected to be about four pages long, is to be finalized next week and submitted for approval to the five organizations.

In substance, the participants discussed gender inequalities in retirement and the various mechanisms intended to reduce them, such as survivor's pensions or contribution quarters granted to women who have had children.

"Women have been hit hard by the 2023 pension reform," said Christelle Thieffinne, the CFE-CGC negotiator.

Ms Thieffinne proposed during the meeting that women who have reached the required contribution period before the legal age, thanks to the quarters granted for maternity leave, can choose to retire before the legal age or benefit from a bonus if they continue to work until the legal age.

Next Thursday, the Court of Auditors will present to the five organisations the second report commissioned by François Bayrou on the relationship between the pension system and growth and employment.

The next three sessions of union-management discussions, starting on April 17, will be devoted to the financing of the pension system.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.